Rain Reign
By Ann M. Martin
This is a heart wrenching story of love, friendship, family and courage.
Rose Howard is a little different from the other grade 5 students at Hatford Elementary. For one thing, she loves homonyms. (Examples: isle and aisle, grown and groan.) She has a list that she uses to keep track of any homonyms she comes across. She is also a stickler for following rules – a trait that doesn’t always make her popular with other kids or even teachers, bus drivers or parents.
Also, she has Asperger’s syndrome, or high-functioning autism.
Rose’s father, her only parent, does not really understand her condition and isn’t always very accommodating. In fact, he leaves her alone quite often and drinks regularly. Luckily, her Uncle Weldon does everything he can for Rose, but still, she is lonely.
Then her father brings home Rain, a lovely little dog. Rain is found wandering around with no collar, so she has no family, right? With Rain around, Rose’s world begins to improve. Even the kids at school become more friendly after they meet Rain. But when Rain goes missing after a storm, Rose is tested. She uses all her courage and resourcefulness to find her. Will they ever be reunited?
This is a heart wrenching story of love, friendship, family and courage.